Fine!
Spiderman 2 isn’t without faults. In fact it falls into the clichéd superhero
trap a few times, but, and this is a big one, I loved the film. I loved it
because not for once during the entire screen time did I feel bored or at the
end thought that maybe it could have been just a little bit shorter.
With
the origins having being taken care of in The Amazing Spiderman, Marc Webb gets
around to play with the character in this sequel and it is clear he is having
fun doing so. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone lead the cast as Peter Parker and
Gwen Stacy who are struggling to make their relationship work. It is important
to note that I disliked the first film, and had given up on this new reboot,
having adored the ‘original’ trilogy which had more depth and character. The
same is true here was well, because the angst present in the relationship of
Spiderman and Mary Jane in the first trilogy is still more intense than what we
see here, nevertheless, The Amazing Spiderman 2 might take the relationship a
little lightheartedly, but it fits the storyline and doesn’t come across as
half-baked.
The
Amazing Spiderman 2 once again dares to go ahead with three villains, remember
Spiderman 3 from before, but the biggest difference this time is that it is all
well planned and sketched out. Paul Giamatti’s Rhino is present only at the
start and at the end; Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin only makes an entry in the
climatic fight sequence, and in a funny way this film is more of an origins
story of the Green Goblin so we see more of Harry Osborn rather than
Spiderman’s arch enemy; and lastly Jamie Foxx’s Electro might follow the tried
and tested route of a superhero’s admirer turn bad guy, but he played it out
well and managed to give Spiderman enough to keep his hands full throughout the
film.
What
bothered me about the film, as an afterthought, were the trademark superhero
scenes that we have seen a few too many times. We have Peter Parker in his
home, still in costume, trying to keep Aunt May out of the room as he tries to
haphazardly change into normal clothes. Then there is a scene when Electro cuts
the power to the city which results in air-control unable to help two planes
from colliding with each other, but as always, at the very last second, the
power is turned on and the planes have a near miss. In fact even the end, which
sees a little boy stand against Rhino, since Spiderman has disappeared for a
while, while the public looks in shock seems to be over dramatic and if my
memory serves right might have been ripped off from an Indian film called
Krrish 3, which mind you in turn had ripped off X-Men, so I guess everything
just moves in circles when it comes to films.
Enough
movie bashing for now, for I don’t want you thinking I didn’t like the film.
Remember, I loved it a lot and it could primarily be because I watched it in 3D
IMAX. I have always advocated against 3D till now, but this time, it added to
the film, and so did the screen size, and the excellent sound. Granted there
were some problems with the 3D, like tilting my head to the side even a little
would make the picture a bit fuzzy, but I guess the cinema and the movie is
just promoting right posture so maybe they do care about our health if not so
much about our finances with the exuberantly rising ticket prices.
When
it comes to the film, Garfield and Stone and almost all the other actors are
comfortable in their characters. The tongue and cheek humor present throughout adds
the right amount of comedy with the magnificent action sequences (that once
again make the most of 3D technology) and the drama which in turn gives us the
full package. What further impressed me was that the Green Goblin, when he does
make an entrance, is a lot more repulsive to look at, as he should be, than his
counterpart from the earlier films. Then, there is the shocking end, which had
me in two minds till the very last second of the fall, wondering if the makers
would take the leap of faith and let Gwen plummet to her death or not? I am
glad to say that they made the right decision at the end.
The
Amazing Spiderman 2 is an entertaining film that tightly packs in all the fun
and excitement that is required for a good superhero film. It moved forward
with the concept that started with The Amazing Spiderman making sure that it
doesn’t get stuck in the past, something that makes the film all the more
likeable. True, the experience of watching it on IMAX 3D added a lot to me
liking the film, but it is also true that I came out of the theater having
enjoyed it wholeheartedly, and in the end that is what really counts.
Rating
4.5/5